Family Time: Don't be afraid to ignore this stepbrother

Weekly family rail, with a review of “Step Brothers,” a kid-friendly banana pudding recipe and more.

Family Screening Room

“Step Brothers”

Rated: R (for crude and sexual content and pervasive language)

Length: 1:35

Synopsis: Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, who last teamed in "Talladega Nights," now star in "Step Brothers," directed by Adam McKay. In "Step Brothers," Ferrell plays Brennan Huff, a sporadically employed 39-year-old who lives with his mother, Nancy (Mary Steenburgen). Reilly plays Dale Doback, a terminally unemployed 40-year-old who lives with his father, Robert (Richard Jenkins). When Robert and Nancy marry and move in together, Brennan and Dale are forced to live with each other as stepbrothers. As their narcissism and downright aggressive laziness threaten to tear the family apart, these two middle-age, immature, overgrown boys will orchestrate an insane, elaborate plan to bring their parents back together. To pull it off, they must form an unlikely bond that maybe will finally get them out of the house.

Violence/gore rating: 3

Sexual-content rating: 5

Profanity rating: 5

Scary/tense-moments rating: 3

Drugs/alcohol rating: 4

Family Time rating: 5. Because of the sexual content and language, this movie is not for youngsters. It’s full of crude humor that teen boys probably will be clamoring to see, but be advised that this film is raunchy.

(Ratings are judged on a five-point scale, with 5 being “bad for kids” and 1 being “fine for kids.”)

The Pet Fairies have one of the most important jobs in Fairyland -- they work with their special pets to make sure that all animals find safe homes. But now Jack Frost has stolen the magical pets. Could they be lost forever? And Penny the Pony Fairy has lost her pony, Glitter. Can the girls bring Glitter safely back to Fairyland? Find the final magical pet in this book and help keep all the animals safe.

The concept is simple: Play a card from your hand and place a chip on a corresponding character on the board. When you have 4 in a row, it's a “sequence,” and you win! This “Sequence” is similar to the popular adult version, but the cards are more fun, including the Unicorn card (which allows you to place your chip anywhere) and the Dragon card (which allows you to remove your opponent's chip).

Tip of the Week: Strategies to beat the economic slump

Even in tough economic times, there are some simple things each of us can do to make a difference in our lives. Especially if questions like these are being asked: When will prices change? Why doesn't my job pay me more? Who is responsible for the current economic slump?

"There are many things that happen in life that are out of our control. Instead of falling into the trap of victim thinking or playing the blame game, why not focus on the action we can take to make a difference?" says John G. Miller, an expert on personal accountability and author of the books "QBQ! The Question Behind the Question" and "Flipping the Switch."

Miller says the best way for each of us to practice personal accountability during difficult times is to ask QBQs. For example:

Incorrect question: Why do gas and groceries cost so much?

Correct question: What can I do to better manage my finances?

"After asking this question of myself, I would be able to examine my personal situation and make changes to my budget," says Miller. "I would then ask questions like: Do I have a cell phone plan that's too big for my income? What can I do differently to save money?" (ARA)

Pet Tip: How to remove a tick from your dog

- Have a pair of gloves, a clean pair of tweezers, some antiseptic and isopropyl alcohol on hand.

- If you feel a bump or swelled area, check to see if a tick has burrowed there. Ticks can be black, brown or tan, and they have eight legs. They can also be tiny — some are only as large as the head of a pin — so look carefully.

- You'll need to wear gloves while removing the tick to avoid contact (ticks can transmit disease). Grasp the tick as close to your dog’s skin as possible, but be gentle! Be sure not to pinch your dog’s skin. Pull outward in a straight, steady motion, making sure that you’ve removed the entire tick, as anything left behind could lead to an infection.

- To make sure that the tick is gone for good, flush it down the toilet.

- Clean your dog's skin with antiseptic and make sure to clean your tweezers with isopropyl alcohol. Wash your hands, too! Then give your pup a treat for being a trooper in the fight against ticks.

Sister Publication

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
The Wellsville Daily Reporter ~ 159 North Main Street, Wellsville, NY 14895 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service